REVIEW – The 10:04s, Fri 23rd April, Voodoo Rooms (We Luv Musik)

In the space of a few short months, Lee and Jay of We Luv Musik have established their gig nights as a regular and near essential part of the Edinburgh live music scene.

This, their latest great value date at the Voodoo Rooms, was another tasty selection box of rock and roll goodness, headlined by one of the city’s most promising and exciting live acts, The 10:04s.

First up were Apache Oil, an Edinburgh band playing their first ever gig. Their set consisted of classic rock covers from the likes of Deep Purple and Hendrix, allowing the them to unleash pounding riffs & rhythms and demonstrate some fine guitar gymnastics.

The Apache Oil frontman had a bit of the Dave Grohls about him, whilst their lead guitarist and backing vocalist certainly knew his way around a fretboard. For a first live outing, this was mighty fine and the band succeeded in getting the Mighty Musik Machine’s wheels turning.

Apache Oil

Paul Vinter‘s solo acoustic set brought a change of pace to the lineup, with the Livingston-based singer songwriter treating the audience to a collection of his Welleresque material. Songs like Crumble & Fall and My Mystical Friend showed that Vinter has a mature & melodic style with vocal and guitar ability to match.

Currently recruiting a full band to assist him with bringing his music to the masses, Vinter’s good-natured talent and knack for creating well-crafted songs mean he’s definitely one worth keeping an ear out for.

Paul Vinter

It’s rare for a band to win the audience over with within a few beats, but central Scotland outfit Johnny & The Giros – a late replacement act on the bill – managed it in spades.

Their frenetic and snake-hipped rock funk madness immediately set the Ballroom ablaze, with songs like Casino and Elle Diablo whipping up a Happy Mondays style storm. Frontman Mikey owned the stage, as his bandmates unleashed great big sexy slabs of aural pleasure beside him. Andy Butler on synth added an extra layer of kookiness to the Giros already stonking sound; these boys were smoking more than Eyjafjallajökull, and went down an absolute storm.

Johnny and the Giros

A hard act to follow, then. If anyone was capable however, it was local heroes The 10:04s.

It’s great to see an Edinburgh scene emerging, and these boys – together with the likes of Pose Victorious and The Ok Social Club – are leading the charge. Fresh from Haddowfest, The 10:04s delighted an already devoted crowd with an energetic and effortlessly cool set. With a laid-back pout and hair flopped over his face like a long-lost Ramone brother, frontman Stevie exuded the ‘all the girls want to / all the boys want to’ cool factor from every pore. Beside him, Danny sawed away at his guitar as if he was trying to tame a wild animal, unleashing The 10:04’s signature sonic assault.

The 10:04s

Johnny kept the basslines pounding whilst Paul Haddow thrashed the kit to within an inch of its life, wild-eyed and savage like a man possessed. Though the 10:04s were playing to a friendly crowd, their set was more than capable of winning over anyone who hadn’t heard them before. Sounding in part like early Idlewild – but most like your New Favourite Band – their sound was a towering inferno of incendiary indie-based rock that almost saw the Ballroom self-combust under the 10:04’s white-hot heat.

We Luv Musik nights have built up a significant fan-base and following around town. With four bands on the bill and a DJ-based set keeping the floor filled after the headline act have finished, these gigs are becoming less of a pitch-up-and-hope-you-like-something affair and more like an essential night out where you’re guaranteed a great time.